Pleasanton Weekly

Opinion - November 2, 2012

Pleasanton Weekly endorsements

For the 50% of you who haven't yet voted by mail -- saving that special privilege for Election Day Tuesday at the polling place -- many of us will be patiently joining you in lines that could be extraordinarily long. It pays to carry along your Sample Ballot to read once again before marking your ballot. As we saw with Hurricane Sandy and the devastation along the eastern seaboard, much can change almost overnight in politics, too. For California, a state with a large Democratic Party majority, we won't be the state that decides the presidential race and some of us may be voting long after the polls in those key states have closed. But we will be the decision-makers in voting for Pleasanton mayor and City Council, for Congress and on a multitude of propositions and measures awaiting our decision. Several of these races could be very close. Let's make sure we vote.

For mayor, we are endorsing Councilwoman Cheryl Cook-Kallio, who's been a valuable, problem-solving council member with helpful connections in Sacramento and Washington. She has support from both business and union representatives and, importantly, from Tri-Valley, Alameda County, regional and state government leaders. If she needs help on a regional issue, she has many close contacts who will quickly take her call and give our city a hand. Her opponent, fellow Councilman Jerry Thorne, also has excellent credentials both in public service and as a retired business executive. If Cook-Kallio wins, Thorne will continue to serve for another two years on the council and will likely continue representing Pleasanton with the California League of Cities.

For City Council, to succeed council members Cindy McGovern and Matt Sullivan who are stepping down because of term limits, we recommend Planning Commission Chairman Jerry Pentin and businesswoman Karla Brown.

Pentin, a Pleasanton businessman, has served on a number of city commissions and advisory groups and was honored with the Mayor's Award in 2008. Karla Brown, a Realtor, regularly attends City Council meetings and has been active in a number of business and civic groups in Pleasanton, where she has lived for the last 20 years. A third candidate, Erlene DeMarcus, who as a BART board member years ago helped bring BART to Pleasanton, has strong support outside of Pleasanton but hasn't been all that visible in local civic and political groups.

For Congress, in the newly aligned 15th District that now serves all of Pleasanton, we recommend Eric Swalwell, a Dublin Councilman and Alameda County prosecutor. Still a Democrat like the man he's challenging -- Pete Stark, a 20-term Congressman who has served a part of Pleasanton and a larger part of the East Bay longer than many of us have lived here -- Swalwell is the political moderate we prefer. At age 31, Swalwell promises to bring new energy and younger ideas to Congress.

As for the newly aligned 7th State Senate District, Mark DeSaulnier has our endorsement over Republican Mark Meuser. We also favor the re-election of Joan Buchanan in the state's new 16th Assembly District over her Republican opponent Al Phillips.

With regard to the propositions and measures, the Pleasanton Weekly favors Propositions 32, 34, 35, 36 and 40. We're recommending No votes on all the others, most notably on Propositions 30 and 38, two competing measures that will raise sales tax and personal income rates "temporarily," and on Measure B1, a new Transportation Expenditure Plan that would extend a 1/2-cent sales tax in Alameda County by another half-cent virtually forever.

Others we oppose are Propositions 31, 33, 37, 38, 39 and Measure A1, the $12 parcel tax on Alameda County property owners until 2037 to fund improvements and expansion projects at the Oakland Zoo. We also oppose Measure I, which calls for a "temporary" levy in the form of a $28 parcel tax on owners of homes in the Las Positas College District.

Posted by Jen, a resident of Vineyard Hills
on Nov 3, 2012 at 11:41 pm

As a Pleasanton resident of over 20 years, I am deeply disappointed that the Pleasanton Weekly did not look at Measure A1 before choosing to recommend a vote against it. Measure A1 IS about improvements absolutely (the zoo has some exhibits that are around 40 years old that need serious assistance), but is NOT about expansion projects. It is about current exhibits. Furthermore, this measure is about EDUCATION programs. It would double the amount of FREE education programs the zoo provides. In a time period where we are cutting away at math and science in our schools, we NEED this measure for our kids. Why is that not mentioned anywhere in your endorsements? The Oakland Zoo has done so much to teach children about biology, biodiversity, conservation, and stewardship all over Alameda County. Just this past year, the zoo funded $120,000 worth of buses to bring school kids to the zoo for free. $12/year is nothing compared to everything the zoo has given to our community.

Posted by thx, a resident of Amador Estates
on Nov 4, 2012 at 6:28 am

any person this leftist pravda PW endorses helps me understand who NOT to vote for.

Posted by stinky, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 4, 2012 at 9:40 am

they endorse swallwell over stark, favor prop 32 and oppose 30 and 38, and you call them leftist? cmon

Posted by no thx, a resident of Amador Estates
on Nov 4, 2012 at 11:59 am

thx, a resident of the Amador Estates, you don't get out much, do you? Stuck in the fifties?

Endorsing Eric Stallwell hardly makes them a lefty...

Posted by OK percentage, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 4, 2012 at 1:33 pm

look again thx, PW percentage looks pretty good, pretty centrist.
Pentin yes, NO on 3O & 38, Yes on 32, no on 37, A1, B1, all the right calls.
PWs main stumble was for Cook-Kallio and the unions.

Posted by Yes, I am voting for Cook-Kallio, a resident of Deer Oaks/Twelve Oaks
on Nov 4, 2012 at 5:36 pm

I am voting for Cook-Kallio because she is thoughtful and intelligent and she looks at both sides of the issue. When I contacted the city council for help, she was not the only one who contacted me back but was THE ONLY ONE who actually listened and tried to help. I have watched her over the years. She knows what she is doing. She looks out for PLeasanton. She makes independent decisions and she tells you why she votes that way.

Posted by OK percentage, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 4, 2012 at 10:34 pm

Well see, when unions are on the agenda, if ""she looks out for Pleasanton"" or the unions. Listening is nice, but doesn't change anything.....in the end it's the votes that matter.

Posted by Long time Resident, a resident of Vintage Hills Elementary School
on Nov 5, 2012 at 12:39 am

I got a mailer the other day from Karla Brown. In it she listed her accomplishments, including authoring the ridge-line protection initiative and tireless efforts to prevent development on our open space and ridges. She also listed her presidency of the Kottinger Ranch HOA. I assume this means that she lives in Kottinger Ranch, since I doubt they'd let an outsider be a member, let alone president.

Now I may be mistaken, but isn't Kottinger Ranch built on a series of ridges? And aren't several of the streets and homes built not only within the ridge-line initiative's build limit, but even on top of the ridges? Doesn't it strike you as hypocritical that someone who lives in an area with great views and property values based on elevation and location author a law that limits others from enjoying similar benefits? Preventing the construction of more homes like the ones in Kottinger Ranch makes them even more exclusive and increases the value of the homes that were built before the measure passed.

So it appears that Karla Brown is a selfish hypocrite, campaigning for laws that benefit her personally and professionally (remember she's a realtor - limited development helps property values and commissions).

Karla Brown may say she is for Pleasanton and for ridge-line protection, but her actions say "I got mine... I will now work tirelessly to prevent you from getting yours!" That's not the kind of person we deserve in our City Council.

Posted by Vote Karla for Council, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 5, 2012 at 5:52 am

I know Karla and she actually lives in the valley, not on a ridge, so you should get your facts straight.

But she will fight to protect a lot of things in town. For example, there are ridgelines all over town that are protected by the voters, not just the very highest ones in Oak Grove. She helped author Ridgeline protection, but the large majority of voters like me voted it into law.

Karla wants to keep our Heritage homes and downtown buildings safe, but she does not live downtown in an old house.

She will work on pension reform to keep the city's financial state healthy so money will be there when our city employees retire, but she is not a city employee or a union member.

Karla is a real estate agent but did not take a penny from their political machine.

She is supported by a wide variety of Democrats and Republicans, but knows local elections are not about national politics. At our house we get mailers from both parties, and she is staying out of it all together- unlike some others that have no local support so they are trying to use party politics to gain votes.

She is honest and hard working, and she will make an excellent council person for Pleasanton.

Posted by Long time Resident, a resident of Vintage Hills Elementary School
on Nov 5, 2012 at 7:08 am

If you read my post, I never said specifically where Karla Brown's house was (I don't know, never been invited there). All I said was that she lives in a neighborhood that probably wouldn't exist if her ridge-line protection initiative had passed earlier. That strikes me as hypocritical and mean.

Get YOUR facts straight before accusing anyone else, please.

Posted by Kate, a resident of Del Prado
on Nov 5, 2012 at 8:32 am

I agree completely with the endorsement of Jerry Pentin. Jerry has worked tirelessly for the city of Pleasanton through many different organizations for years. His vision for Pleasanton is what I believe in and what other residents in Pleasanton should support as well! Vote for Jerry Pentin!

Karla Brown and her group mislead MANY Pleasanton voters into
thinking they were voting against building on THE Pleasanton
Ridge, not the land behind Kottinger Ranch. We lost a great
deal in voting down the development.

Posted by Robert, a resident of Bordeaux Estates
on Nov 5, 2012 at 9:29 am

Karla Brown is great and she has my vote. She is the only candidate that stands for slow growth and is also endorsed by the Sierra Club!

Posted by OK percentage, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 5, 2012 at 10:40 am

Since the founder of Sierra Club dropped out because today's group is too extreme, it might be better to keep that under wraps. It's sure a deal breaker for me. Common sense sells better.

Posted by Lisa, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 5, 2012 at 11:13 am

NIMBY hypocrites like Karla Brown make me sick! Like the time we wanted to put a second story on our house. Our neighbor spoke against our application because it would ruin the view from her UPSTAIRS bathroom! She has a second story, but doesn't want anyone else to! Very selfish! Just like Karla and her Kottinger Ranch cronies!

Posted by Lynn, a resident of Del Prado
on Nov 5, 2012 at 11:40 am

If you are voting No on Prop 37, ask yourself: Why are the biggest chemical, junk food and grocery industry groups willing to spent $50 million to defeat this measure? That fact alone should be enough to convince you that your health and the well-being of farmers and consumers is not even remotely a concern for these companies. The only thing they care about is their bottom line. Tinkering with and controlling our food supply is how they are achieving their millions.

The public has unfortunately been swayed by the opposition's misleading and flat-out lies in their ad campaign. When was the last time a political ad for anything was accurate. This measure will NOT increase food prices, will NOT lead to frivolous lawsuits, will NOT hurt consumers or farmers. What it will do is let the public know when our foods have been genetically tinkered with. I don't know about you, but I don't want to eat food made in a Petri dish. VOTE YES on PROP 37 - We DO have a right to know what's in our food!

Posted by Lugnut, a resident of Amador Estates
on Nov 5, 2012 at 11:52 am

Karla is an Ayala minion. Lives in Kottinger Ranch. At Council Meeting a few years back, when discussing Oak Grove she, in her Elitist manner, referred to her neighborhood as a "Destination Neighborhood" and should not have cut through traffic. She probably was cheer leading somewhere when that development was built. The poor people who lived around that area put up with all the dust and did not consider their neighborhood a "Dedtination Neighborhood". And that is when I was put off by her as she is a Nimby and talks out of both sides of mouth.n

Posted by Lugnut, a resident of Amador Estates
on Nov 5, 2012 at 11:52 am

Karla is an Ayala minion. Lives in Kottinger Ranch. At Council Meeting a few years back, when discussing Oak Grove she, in her Elitist manner, referred to her neighborhood as a "Destination Neighborhood" and should not have cut through traffic. She probably was cheer leading somewhere when that development was built. The poor people who lived around that area put up with all the dust and did not consider their neighborhood a "Dedtination Neighborhood". And that is when I was put off by her as she is a Nimby and talks out of both sides of mouth.n

Voting no on Propositions 30 and 38, and Measure I means that you value those few extra dollars in your wallet above the educational needs of our young children and youth. Shame on you Pleasanton Weekly!

Posted by Thanks you big lugnut, a resident of Vineyard Hills
on Nov 5, 2012 at 3:59 pm

Thank you Lugnut. Your title speaks loudly about your intelligence and has helped me decide who to vote for!

Every time I view the ridges around town - including the southern ones, I say a prayer of thanks to Kay Ayala, but I was not sure who worked on the campaign with her. Now I know - and I am for ONE candidate, Karla Brown for Pleasanton City council! Thank you!

Posted by Kevin, a resident of Pleasanton Valley
on Nov 5, 2012 at 4:28 pm

The point has been made here that by passing Measure I, you will allow for admin costs at LPC to increase. There are several reasons why this is NOT TRUE. First this money would be collected outside of Prop 98 funding. BY LAW, the college must spend 50% of Prop 98 funding in the classroom. If the CLP District were to try and move Prop 98 funding over to the Admin side of the ledger, because I passed, this would violate CA LAW! This would be litigated. The CLP District would lose and most of the top admins would be fired. Also the Board of Trustees would be in hot water. Measure I money must be accounted for by a citizen's committee. This is how it worked for Measure B as well. That money could only go for new buildings and equipment. Measure I money can only go into the classroom! Vote YES on I.